Exploring Autistic Dreamscapes

A systematic review of dream patterns in autistic people

Abstract

The social simulation theory posits that dreams provide opportunities to practice social interactions. However, given the social motivation theory of autism, which suggests that autistic individuals find social stimuli less rewarding, this review aims to investigate whether these differences extend to dream content and patterns. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the existing literature on dream content and characteristics in autistic individuals compared to non-autistic (allistic) individuals. A systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus using terms related to autism and dreams. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicated several key differences in dream content. Autistic participants exhibited a reduced dream recall and reported fewer major characters and social interactions in their dreams. Specific themes, such as confusion and sexual arousal, were less common in autistic individuals. Two case studies revealed how the emotional and sensory experiences of autistic individuals, such as fears and sensitivities, manifested uniquely in their dreams. There were no significant differences in sleep onset latencies or EEG abnormalities between autistic and allistic individuals. The findings suggest that autistic individuals demonstrate distinct dream patterns characterized by reduced social content and emotional elements. This aligns with the social motivation theory and highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between waking social experiences and nocturnal cognitions in autistic individuals. Further research is needed to explore the neurobiological underpinnings and implications of these differences in dream content.